Improved synthesis of 2,2′-dimethoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-3,3′-diacetic acid derivatives

During the past decade, the chemistry of BINAP, BINAM, and BINOL derivatives experienced an important development due to multiple applications in catalysis, metallo-supramolecular chemistry and material science. Consequently, the need to develop functionalized binaphthyl derivatives became crucial. In this context, we were interested in preparing 2,2′-dimethoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-3,3′-diacetic acid species. The latter were efficiently prepared using a modified Arndt–Eistert reaction that afforded the expected chiral diacid in good yield. Compared to the method we described earlier, this new strategy allows the preparation of the target homologated diacid chloride in a very efficient manner, limiting wastes and tedious column chromatographies.